Funnel device



Jan. 16, 1923. 1,442,278.

W. M. LE G0RE. FUNNEL DEVICE. ILED SEPT.I3. 1921.

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1 1,442,223 PA E T:OFFICE.

WILLIAM M, LE GORE, or ZEFZEERSON, IOWA" FUNITE DEVICE Application filedSeptember 13, 1921. Serial No. 500,394.

T0 allcvlzomitma conc7m: W

Be it known that 11, WILLIAM M. LE GORE, a citizen of the United States, and of Jefferson, in the county of Greene and State of Imva, have invented a certain new and useful Funnel Device, or which the foL lowingis a specificrtion.

' The object of my--invention is'to provide a funnel device ofsimple, durable and inexpensive construction especially adaptedf0r filling such things as the vacuum gasoline feed tanks for'autom0biles for the purpose of priming them xvhen the vacuum feed fails to properly operate. v

A furtherobjectisto provide a device of this class in WhiCh the operator may radily, quickly andeasily remove the tunnel cover and2valve so -that thewill not in any Wag interfere with the operation offillingthe funnel and then faftj'er.the funnel has been filled and thevacuuin feedchamber properl primed, the valve and tunnel cover may be quickly and easily returned and placedin fixd position where-they Will form an air tight enclosure between the funnel and the vacuum feed device, and at the same 'time provide a dust and water tight ei1closure for the interior of the unnel; and

Further in this connection it is myobject to provide a device of this character in .Which the valve and cover are at all times connected and may be handled and operated as a unit and prevented from rattling or working loose when installed in an automobile. n

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combin'ationwith a unnel, of a combined valve and tunnel sealing cover, Whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed 'out in my claim, and illu'strated in removed-rom the funneL Above the collar 21 is acoil spring 24 surrounding the valve stem, with its upper end bearing against the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a srde elevatron of a part of a vacuum feed device having my im proved funnel device installed thereon.

Figure 2 shows a top or plan view of same. Figure 3 shows a vertical sealed sectional view of my improved funnel deviee.

Referring to the accompanying draWings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate that' portion of a vacuum feed tank for automobiles of the kind novv in common use. This vacuum ;Eeed device of itself forme ne part of my' present invention and hence need not be further illustrated or described herein.

a resident These vacuum eed: devices are, usually supplied on their upper ends Witha screw threaded priming opening, in theendof which a scrW plugis brdinarilinserted, and;my 1nnldevice is especially desigried -to:bescrewed into this opening in place of the plug.

The furinel proper is indicated by the numeral 11, and 'is Substantially upshvPed and provided at its lower and with'a screw threaded extension 12 designed to be screwed" into the Serew threaded um feed device, v1ded on its interior'with a needle 'valve openingof the vac'u:

scat 13 and-a scrw thfezzded opening at its ripper portion abve thealve scat. Th valve proper. comprises a valve stem 141ming at its lower er1da needlevalve"15 and. a screw threaded portion 16, this Screwl This-extension 12 is prothreaded portiofibeihg"desighed to enter the screwthreaded Portion 12 and the'needle valve to seat aga'instthe needle valve scat 13. 'When the Valve is screwed down ftight the passage Way through the bottom of the fun# nel is partly closed'by the screw threaded portion of the valve stem sealed bythe needle valve.

The cover for the tunnel comprises v portion 17 having at its 'edges the fianges 18 and 19 to overlap =the innexb and outer surfaces of the upper edge of the funhel to form a dust and water.tightjoint. 'In the center of the cover 17 is a round opening through Which the valve stem is projected, Above the cover I have provided a flexible washer 20 surrounding the valve stem, and:

above'itis a-metal coll'ar 21 slidingly mount ed on the valve stem. 'This collar 21 is preferably attachedto a chain 22 which isalso attachedto astationary support 23 to hold the valvestem and cover when it hasbeen the handle 25 'at the top of the valve stem and is tightly.

and its lowr end bearing against the colg lar 21." A cotter pin 26 is provided in the v valve stem below the cover. 17;

' In practical operation there are numerous advan'tages 'obtamed by thei use of the 1n-' vention heretofore described.j When the device is installed upon an automobile, the

tunnel is securely ,sealed from the interior of the vacuum feed device by the needle valve and screw sO'that it can not in. any

Way interfere with the ordinary use of the vacuum eed device. I*urthermore, the spring exerts a yielding pressure on tlie valve stem preventing it from being accidentally turned and loosened by the vibration of the automobile. During this time also the entrance of either water or dust to the interior of the tunnel is prevented because the spring tends to firmly hold the cover against the funnel, thns forming a dust and water t1ght joint at this point, and in addition thereto the spring acting upon the collar 21 flattens out the flexible washer 20 and causes it to firmly engage tl1e valve stem and the cover in such a manner as to prevent the entrance of water or dust at this oint.

. VVhen the device is to be.nsed as a funnel the operator simply unscrews the valve stem by grasping the handle at the top thereof and turns it a few revolutions until the screw threadat its lower end is disengaged from the screw at the opening, wherenpon the spring elevates the valve stem a short distance 50 the operator can readrly determine that the valve Stem has been :lreed from the funriel device and then the opera tor raises the valve stem and lays it to one side where it is held by its chain. The cotter pin by engaging the eover raises the cover with the valve.stem and thus all of these loose or detaohable parts are held together in suoh a manner that they can not be lest or misplaced. And furthermore,

when filling the tunnel the valve stem and Cap are all removed to positions where they can not in any way interfere with the operation of filling.

I claini as my invention:

A tunnel device of the class described eomprising a tunnel body having a serew threaded extension at its lower end provided witha central opening and having at its upper portion an internal serew thread, and at its loWer portion a needlevalve seat, a cover for the tunnel shaped toform a water and dust tight joint with the top of the funnel and provided with a central opening, a valve stem extended through the central opening of the cover and having at its lower portion a sorew thread and a needle valve, a flexible washer surrounding the up per portion of the. valve stem above the cover, a oeil spring surrounding the upper portion of the valve stem and bearing against said flexible washer and also against the valve stem handle, and a pin inthe valve stem spaced below the cover, for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa,* August 11, 1921. WILLIAM M. LE GORE. 

